Admonitions

1. On the Body of the Lord

The Lord Jesus says to His disciples: "I am the Way, the
Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you
had known Me, you would know My Father as well; in a litte while will know
Him and see Him."Phillip says to Him: "Lord, show
us the Father, and that will suffice for us." Jesus says to him:
"For so long a time I am with you, and you do not know Me? Phillip,
he who sees Me, sees even My Father" (John 14:6-9).

The Father dwells in light inaccessible (cf. 1 Timothy 6:16), and God
is spirit (John 4:24), and no one has ever seen God (John 1:18). Therefore
He can be seen only in spirit, since it is the spirit which vivifies, the
flesh brings forth nothing (John 6:64). But neither is the Son, because
He is equal to the Father, seen in Him otherwise than the Father, otherwise
than the Holy Spirit. Whence all who saw the Lord Jesus acccording to the
Humanity and both did not see and believe according to the spirit the Divinity
also, that He Himself is the true Son of God, have been damned; so even
now all who see the Sacrament, which is sanctified by the words of the
Lord upon the Altar by the hand of the Priest in the form of bread and
wine, and does not see and believe according to the spirit the Divinity
also, that this is truly the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, have been damned, since the Most High Himself testifies, who said:
"This is My Body and My Blood of the new testament (which is
poured forth for the many" (Mt. 14:22,24); and "He
who eats My Flesh and drinks the Blood of the Lord." All Others,
who do not have according to this same spirit and presume to receive Him,
eat and drink judgement upon themselves (cf. 1 Cor. 11:29). Whence: "Sons
of men, how long with a heavy heart?" (Ps 4:3) So that you may
know the truth and believe in the Son of God (cf. John 9:35))

Behold, every day He humbles Himself (cf. Phil 2:8), just as when from
royal thrones (Wis. 18:15) He entered into the womb of the Virgin; every
day He comes to us presenting Himself humbly; everyday He descends from
the bosom of His Father to the Altar into the hands of the Priest. And
just as to the holy Apostles in true flesh, so even now He shows Himself
to us in the Sacred Bread. And just as when they gazed at his very own
fleah they saw only His flesh, but contemplating with their spiritual eyes
believed Him to be God, so even we seeing bread and wine with our bodily
eyes, may see and firmly believe them even to be His Most Holy Body and
Blood, living and true. And in such a manner the Lord is always His faithful
ones, just as He says: "Behold I am with you even to the comsumation
of the age" (cf. Mt. 28:20)

2. On the wickedness of one's own wilfulness

The Lord said to Adam: "Of every tree eat, however of the tree
of good and evil you shall not eat" (cf. Gen 2:16.17). Of every
tree of paradise he could have eaten, since while he did not go against
obedience, he did not sin. For he eats of the tree of the knowledge of
good, who appropriates his own will to himself and exalts himself on account
of the good things, which the Lord says and works in him; and so by means
of the suggestion of the devil and the transgression of the command it
is made the fruit of the knowledge of evil. Whence it is fitting, that
he should undergo punishment.

3. On perfect obedience

The Lord says in the Gospel: "He who will not renounce all
that he posseses, cannot be My disciple" (Lk 13:33); and:
"He who would save his soul, loses it" (Lk 9:24).
That man relinquishes all that he posseses, and loses his own body, who
entirely offers his very own self to obedience in the hands of his prelate.
And whatever he does and says, that he himself knows, which is not contrary
to the will of the latter, as long as what he does be good, is true obedience.
And if when the subject may see better and more useful things for his own
soul than those which the prelate may command him, may he not fail to fulfill
them. For this is loving obedience (cf. 1Pet 1:22), since it satisfies
God and neighbor. If truly the prelate would command anything against his
own soul, it is licit for him not to obey, however he should not abandon
him. And if for that reason he will endure persecution by others, let him
love them more for God's sake. For he who endures persecution rather that
wishing to be separated from his brothers, truly remains in perfect obedience,
since he lays down his own soul (cf. John 15:13) on behalf of his brothers.
There are many religious, who under the appearance of seening better things
than those which their prelates command, look back (cf. Lk 9:62) and return
to the vomit of thier own willfulness (cf. Prov. 26:11; 2 Pet 2:22); these
are murderers and on account of thier wicked examples cause many souls
to perish.

4. That no one should appropriate to himself the office of superior

"He did not come to be ministered unto, but to minister"
(cf. Mt 20:28), says the Lord. Let those, who are set up over others,
glory as much on account of that office of superior, as if they were appointed
to the duty of washing the feet of the brothers. And in as much as they
are so greatly disturbed on account of the loss of their office of superior
than the duty regarding feet, they assemble purses for themselves to the
danger of their souls (cf. John 12:6).

5. So that no one may be proud, let him glory in the Cross of the
Lord

Be attentive, oh man, in you the Lord God has placed so many excellent
things, since He created and formed you to the image of His own beloved
Son according to the body and to His likness according to the spirit (cf.
Gen. 1:26). And all creatures, which are under heaven, after you serve,
know and obey the Creator better than you. And even the demons did not
crucify Him, but you with them have crucified Him and even now you crucifiy
Him by delighting in vices and sins. Therefore how can you glory? For if
you were so subtle and wise that you had all science and knew to interpret
every kind of tounge (cf. 1 Cor 12:28) and to search subtly after celestial
things, in all these things you cannot glory; since one demon knew of celestial
things and now knows of earthly things more than all men, eventhough there
be one, who received from the Lord a special understanding of the highest
wisdom. Similarly even if you be more handsome and wealthy than all and
even if you were to work miracles, as would put to flight demons, all those
things would be injurious to you and none of them would pertain to you
nor could you glory in them. But in this we can glory, in our infirmities
(cf. 2 Cor 12:5) and in bearing each day the Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus
Christ (Lk 14:27).

6. On the imitation of the Lord

Let us be attentive, all friars, to the Good Shepherd, who endured the
passion of the Cross to save His won sheep. The sheep of the Lord have
followed Him in tribulation and persecution, shame and hunger, in infirmity
and temptation and other things; and on account of these they have received
from the Lord everlasting life. Whence we should be greatly ashamed as
servants of God, because they did holy deeds but we by reciting them wish
to receive glory and honor.

7. That good work should follow science

The Apostle says: "The letter kills, the spirit however vivifies"
(2 Cor 3:6). Those are dead by the letter who desire to know only the words,
so as to be held as wiser men among others and be able to acquire great
riches to be given to relatives and friends. And those religious are dead
by the letter, who do not know how to follow the spirit of the divine letter,
but only desire to know great words and to explain them to others. And
those have been vivified by the divine letter, who do not attribute every
letter, which they know and desire to know, to the body, but in word and
example return them to the Most High Lord God, of whom is every good thing.

8. On avoiding the sin of envy

The Apostle says: "No one can say, "Lord Jesus," except
in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3);" and "There is no one who does
good, not even to one" (Rm 3:12). Whoever therefore would envy his
own brother on account of the good, that the Lord says and works in him,
would tend towards the sin of blasphemy, since he would be envying the
Most High Himself (cf. Mt 20:15), who says and works every good thing.

9. On loving

The Lord says: "Love your enemies [do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who are persecuting and calumniating you] (Mt 5:44).
For he truly loves his enemy, who does not grieve over the injury, which
has been done to himself, but for the sake of the love of God burns on
account of the sin against his own soul. And mansfiests love for such a
one in deeds.

10. On the chastisement of the body

There are many, who while they sin or receive injury, often blame their
enemy or neighbor. But such is not the case: since each one has under his
own power the enemy, namely the body, through which he sins. Whence blessed
is that servant (Mt. 24:46), who has surrendered such an enemy into his
own power; since, as long as he does this, no other enemy visible or invisible
can harm him.

11. So that no one may be corrupted by the evil of another

No thing ought to displease the servant of God except sin. And in whatsoever
manner another person should sin, even on account of this the servant of
God for the sake of charity should not be upset or grow angry, hoarding
up fault for himself (cf. Rom 2:5). That servant of God, who does not grow
angry nor disturbes himself on account of another, lives rightly without
anything of his own. And blessed is he, who does not let anything remain
behind for himself, returning those things which are Caesar's to Caesar,
and those which are God's to God (Mt. 22:21)

12. On recognizing the spirit of God

Thus can the servant of God be known, if he has the spirit of the Lord:
when the Lord works through him anything good, if his flesh for that reason
does not exalt itself, since it is always contrary to every good, but if
rather he holds himself up before his own eyes as more vile and esteemes
himself less that all men.

13. On patience

Blessed are the peacemakers, since they shall be called sons of God
(Mt. 5:9). The servant of God cannot know how much patience and humility
he has in himself, so long as is self satisfied. However when there comes
the time, which those who ought to satisfy him, do the contrary to him,
as much patience and humility as is there, that much he has and not more.

14. On poverty of spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit, since their is the Kingdom of Heaven
(Mt. 5:3). There are many, who persisting in prayers and offices practice
many abstinences and make afflict their own bodies, but on account of a
single word, which seems to be injurious of their bodies or on account
of anything, which is brought against them are, like the scandalized, continually
disturbed. These are not poor in spirit; since he who truly is poor in
spirit, hates himself and loves those who beat him in the face (cf. Mt
5:39)

15. On peace

Blessed are the peacemakers, since they shall be called sons of God
(Mt. 5:9). Those are true peacemakers, who concering all those in things,
which they suffer in this age, preserve peace in soul and body for the
love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

16. On cleanliness of heart

Blessed are clean of heart, since they themelves shall see God (Mt.
5:8). Truly are they clean in heart who despise earthly things, seek heavenly
ones and always withdraw from adoring and beholding Our Lord, living and
true, with a clean heart and soul.

17. On the humble servant of God

Blessed is that servant (Mt 24:46), who does not exalt himself more
on account of the good, which the Lord says and works through him, than
that which He says and works through another. A man sins, who desires rather
to receive from his neighbor, what he, of himself, does not want to give
to the Lord God.

18. On compassion for one's neighbor

Blessed is the man, who supports his neighbor on account of his frailty,
to the extent that he would want to be supported by him, if he were to
fall into a similiar situation. Blessed is the servant who returns all
his good to the Lord God, since he who retains anything conceals within
himself the money of the Lord his God (Mt 25:18) and what he thought he
had will be born away from him (Lk 8:18).

19. On the humble servant of God

Blessed is the servant, who does not consider himself better, when he
is magnified and exalted by men, than when he is considered to be vile,
simple, and despised, since as much as he is good before God, that he is
and nothing more. Woe to that religious, who hase been placed by others
on high and does not wish to descend on his own will. And blessed is that
servant (Mt. 24:46), who is not placed on high on account of his own will
and always desires to be beneath the feet of others.

20. On the good and the vain religious

Blessed is that religious, who has not pleasure nor joy except in the
Lord's most holy discourses and works, and with these leads men forth to
the love of God with gladness and joy (cf. Ps. 50:10). Woe to that religious,
who delights himself in idle and vain words and with these leads men forth
to laugh.

21. On the inane and loquacious religious

Blessed is the servant, who when he speaks, does not manifest all his
learning for the sake of reward and is not swift to speak (cf. Prov. 29:20),
but wisely provides, what he should speak and answer. Woe to that religious,
who does not retain in his heart (Lk 2:19.51) the good things, which the
Lord displays to himself, and does not display them to others in deed,
but for the sake of reward desires to display them rather in words to men.
He himself has received his reward (cf. Mt. 6:2; 6:16) and his hearers
bring back little fruit.

22. On correction

Blessed is the servant who would endure discipline, accusation and rebuke
as patiently from another as from himself. Blessed is the servant, who
having been rebuked, acquiesces kindly, submits meekly, confesses humbly
and makes satisfaction freely. Blessed is the servant, who is not swift
to excuse himself and humbly endures shame and rebuke on account of sin,
where he has not commited any fault.

23. On humility

Blessed is the servant, who is found to be as humble among his own subjects,
as when he is among his own superiors. Blessed is the servant, who remains
under the rod of correction. A faithful and prudent servant is he (cf.
Mt. 24:45), who does not delay to punish all his own offenses interiorly
by contrition and exteriorly by confession and works of satisfaction.

24. On true love

Blessed is the servant, who would so love his own brother, when he is
infirm and cannot repay him, as when he is healthy and can repay him.

25. Likewise regarding others

Blessed is the servant, who would so love and fear his own brother,
when he is far from him, as when he is with him, and would not say anything
behind him, which he could not with charity say before him.

26. That the servants of God should honor the clergy

Blessed is the servant, who puts faith in the clergy who live rightly
according to the manner of the Roman Church. And woe to those who dispise
them; for though they may be sinners, no one however should judge them,
since God Himself alone reserves to Himself their judgement. For as much
as their task is greater, as they care for the Most Holy Body and Blood
of Our Lord Jesus Christ, because they themselves receive and they themselves
alone minister Him to the other men of this world.

27. On the virtue of fleeing vice

Where there is charity and wisdom, there is fear and not ignorance.
Where there is patience and humility, there is neither wrath nor disturbance.
Where there is poverty with happines, there is neither cupidity nor avarice.
Where there is fear of the Lord to guard the entrance hall (cf. Lk 11:21),
there the enemy can have no way for entering. Where there is mercy and
discretion, there is neither superfluity nor hardness.

28. On concealing good lest it be lost

Blessed is the servant, who stores up in Heaven (Mt. 6:20) the good
thing, which the Lord shows to him and does not desire to manifest them
to men for the sake of reward, since the Most High Himself will manifest
his works to whosoever He pleases. Blessed is the servant, who attends
to the secrets of the Lord in his heart (cf. Lk 2:19.51).

The Letter to St. Anthony

To Friar Anthony, my bishop, Francis (sends) greetings. It pleases me
that you would teach sacred theology to the friars, so long as in the study
of this you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion, just as
it says in the Rule.

A Letter to the Clergy

N.B. The Bold Faced phrase is that which distinguishes
the first and second recesions, other then paragraphs.

(First Recension)[EpCler I]

1. Let us attend, all clerics, to the great sin and ignorance, which
certain men have concerning the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus
Christ and the most holy Names and His written words, which sanctify the
Body.

2. We know, since there cannot be a Body, unless first it is sanctified
by the word. For we have and see nothing corporally of the Most High Himself,
in this age, except the Body and Blood, Names and words, through which
we have been made and redeemed from death and life (1 Jn 3:14). However
all those who minister such holy mysteries, should consider within themselves,
most of all those who minister illicitly, how vile are the chalices, corporals,
and altar linenes, where the His very Body and Blood are sacrificed. And
by many in vile places He is placed and abandoned, borne about in a wretched
manner and consumed unworthily and ministered to others indiscretely. Even
His Names and writted words are sometimes tred under foot; since the bestial
man does not perceive the things that are of God (1 Cor 2:14). Is not our
piety stirred concerning all these things, when the pious Lord Himself
offers Himself into our hands and we handle Him and consume Him each day
with our mouth? Or are we ignorant that we must (one day) fall into His
Hand? Therefore let us correct quickly all these things and the others;
and wherever the Most Holy Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ has been illicitly
placed and abandoned, let Him be removed from that place and let them be
placed in an honorable place. All these things all the clerics are bound
to observe above everything even to the end of the universe. And
those who will not have done this, let them know that they must render
an account before the Lord on the day of judgement (cf. Mt 12:36). This
has been written so that it may better be observed; let them know themselves
to be blessed by the Lord God, who would have it copied.

A Letter to the Clergy II

(Later recension)[EpCler II]

Let us attend, all clerics, to the great sin and ignorance, which certain
men have concerning the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
and the most holy Names and His written words, which sanctify the Body.
We know, since there cannot be a Body, unless first it is sanctified by
the word. For we have and see nothing corporally of the Most High Himself,
in this age, except the Body and Blood, Names and words, through which
we have been made and redeemed from death and life (1 Jn 3:14). However
all those who minister such holy mysteries, should consider within themselves,
most of all those who minister illicitly, how vile are the chalices, corporals,
and altar linens, where the His very Body and Blood are sacrificed. And
by many in vile places He is placed and abandoned, borne about in a wretched
manner and consumed unworthily and ministered to others indiscretely. Even
His Names and writted words are sometimes tred under foot; since the bestial
man does not perceive the things that are of God (1 Cor 2:14). Is not our
piety stirred concerning all these things, when the pious Lord Himself
offers Himself into our hands and we handle Him and consume Him each day
with our mouth? Or are we ignorant that we must (one day) fall into His
Hand? Therefore let us correct quickly all these things and the others;
and wherever the Most Holy Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ has been illicitly
placed and abandoned, let Him be removed from that place and let them be
placed in an honorable place. All these things all the clerics together
are bound to observe according to the precepts of the Lord and the constitutions
of Holy Mother Church. And those who will not have done this, let them
know that they must render an account before the Lord on the day of judgement
(cf. Mt 12:36). This has been written so that it may better be observed;
let them know themselves to be blessed by the Lord God, who would have
it copied.

A Letter to the Custodes I

First Variant [EpCust I]

To the custodes of the whole of the Friars Minor, to whom these letters
will have come in the Lord God, your servant and little man, (sends) greetings
with new signs in Heaven and on earth, which are great and most excellent
before God and reputed least by many religious and other men. I beg you
more than on my own account, in so far as when it is fitting and when you
see that it is expedient, that you clerics should humbly request that the
Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the His Holy Names
and written words, which sanctify the Body, should be venerated above all
things. Chalices, corporals, the ornaments of the altar and all things
which pertain to the sacrifice, should be held precious. And if in any
place the Most Holy Body of the Lord will have been very poorly placed,
according to the mandate of the Church let Him be put in a precious place
by them and let Him be sealed up and with great veneration borne about
and with discretion ministered unto others. Even the Names and written
words of the Lord, wherever they be found in unclean places, let them be
gathered, and they should be placed in a honorable place. And in every
sermon, which you make, you should warn the people about punishment, and
that no one can be saved, except him who receives the Most Holy Body and
Blood of the Lord (cf. Jn 6:54), and, when He is sacrificed by a priest
upon the Altar and borne about in any part, let all the nations upon bended
kneed render praise, glory and honor to the Lord God living and true. And
on account of His praise in all (parts) of the countryside always by the
whole people, let praise and thankss echo through all the earth to God
Almighty. And, to whomsoever of my friar custodes this writing should come,
both let them copy it and keep (a copy) for themselves and for the friars,
who have the office of preaching and the custody of the friars, let them
make copies and preach all the things, which are contained in this writing,
even until the end; let them know that they have the blessing of the Lord
God and of myself. And this is (to be) for them a true and holy (command)
of obedience. Amen.

Letter to the Custodes II

Second Variant [EpCust II]

To all the custodes of the Friars Minor, to whom these letters might
come, friar Francis, the least of the servants of God, (sends) greetings
and holy peace in the Lord. Know, that in the sight of god there are certain
things exceedingly high and sublime, which are sometimes reputed among
men as vile and abject things; and there are others dear and notable among
men, which in the presence of God are held as the most vile and abject.
I beg you in the presend of the Lord Our God, as much as I can, that
you give those those letters, which treated of the Most Holy Body and Blood
of Our Lord, to bishops and other clerics; and that you retain in your
memory, those things which I have recommended to you concerning these.
Of the other letters, which I am sending you, that you give them to rulers,
consuls, and rectors, and regarding those things which it contains, so
that the Praises of God may be published among the peoples and in the streets,
immediately make many copies, and with great diligence distribute these,
which should be given away.

Letter to the Faithful I

(Former recension) [EpFid I]

(An Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance)

In the Name of the Lord!

[Chapter I]

On those who do penance

All who love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul
and mind, with all their virtute (cf. Mk 12:30) and love their neighbors
as they do themselves (cf. Mt 22:39), and hold thier bodies in hatred with
its vices and sins, and receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
and bring forth fruits worthy of penance: O how blessed and blest are those
men and women, while they do such things and persevere in them, since upon
them rests the Spirit of the Lord (cf. Jn 14:23), and they are sons of
their Heavenly Father (cf. Mt 5:45), whose works they do, and they are
spouses, fathers and mothers of Our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Mt 12:50). We
are spouses, when by the Holy Spirit the faithful soul is joined with Our
Lord Jesus Christ. We are His brothers, when we do the will of the Father
who is in Heaven (Mt. 12:50). Mothers, when we carry Him in our heart and
body (cf. 1 Cor 6:20) by divine love and a pure and sincere conscience;
we give birth to Him by holy work, which should shine upon others as an
example (cf. Mt 5:16). O how glorious it is, holy and great, to have
a Father in Heaven! O how holy, to have such a Paraclete, beautiful and
admirable, as a Spouse! O how holy and how beloved, very pleasing,
humble, peacable, sweet, lovable and desirable above all things to have
such a Brother and such a Son: Our Lord Jesus Christ, who layed down His
soul for His sheep (cf. Jn 10:15) and prayed to His Father saying: "Holy
Father, guard them in Thy Name" (Jn 17:11) and "For them I sanctify
Myself" (Jn 17:19). Not for them only do I pray, but for those who
will believe in Me through their words" (Jn 17:20), "so that
all may be sanctified in one" (cf. Jn 17:23) even as We are"
(Jn 17:11). And "I wish, Father, that where I am they also may be
with Me, so that they may see My Brightness" (Jn 17:24) "in Thy
Kingdom" (Mt. 20:21). Amen.

[Chapter II]

On those who do not do penance

However all those men and women, who are not in penance, and do not
receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and work vices and
sins and who walk after wicked concupiscence and after the wicked desires
of their flesh, and who do not observe, what they have promised the Lord,
and are slaves to the world in their bodies by carnal desires and by the
anxieties of the world and by the cares of this life: (these) ones held
back by the devil, whose sons they are and whose works they do (cf. Jn
8:41), are blind, since they do not see the True Light Our Lord Jesus Christ.
They do not have spiritual wisdom, since they do not have the Son of God
who is the True Wisdom of the Father, concerning whom it is said: "Accursed
are those who turn away from Thy commands" (Ps. 118:21). They see
and do not understand, they know and work wicked things and they themselves
knowingly loose their souls. See, blind ones, deceived by your enemies:
by the flesh, the world, and the devil; since it is sweet to the body to
work sin and bitter to work to serve God; since all vices and sins come
forth and proceed from the heart of man, just as the Lord says in the Gospel
(cf. Mk 7:21). And you will have nothing in this age nor in the one to
come. And you think you will posses the vanities of this age for a long
time, but you are deceived, since there will come the day and hour, of
which you do not think, know or pay attention; the body weakens, death
approches and so one dies a bitter death. And wheresoever, whensoever,
howsoever a man dies in culpable sin without penance and satisfaction,
if he can make satisfaction and does not, the devil tears his soul from
his body with such anguish and tribulation, that no one can know it, except
him who experiences it. And all talents and power and knowledge and wisdom
(2 Chron 1:12), which they thought they had, and he bears it away from
them (cf. Lk 8:18; Mk 4:25). And they forsake neighbors and friends and
these bear off and divide his substance, having said: "Cursed be his
soul, since he could have given us more and acquired what he did not acquire."
Worms eat their body, and so they perish body and soul in this short age
and they will go into Hell, where they will be tortured without end. All
those to whom these letters might have come, we beg in the Love which God
is (cf. 1 Jn 4:16), that they receive kindly those abovesaid sweet-smelling
words of Our Lord Jesus Christ with divine love. And (for) those who do
not know how to read, let them have them read often; and let them keep
(these letters) for themselves with holy work even to the end, since these
are spirit and life (Jn 6:64). And he who would not do this, will be held
accountable on the day of judgement (cf. Mt 12:36) before the tribunal
of Our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rm 14:10).

Letter to the faithful II

(Later Rececnsion) [EpFid II]

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spriit. Amen.
To all christian religious, clerics and lay people, men and women, to all
who dwell in the whole world, friar Francis, their servant and subject,
(offers) submission with reverence, the true peace from heaven and sincere
charity in the Lord. Since I am the servant of all, I am bound to
serve all and administer the sweet-smelling words of my Lord. Whence considering
in mind, that since personally on account of the infirmity and debility
of my body I cannot visit each of you, I have proposed by these
present letters and announcements to repeat to you the words of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, who is the Word of the Father, and the words of the Holy
Spirit, which are spirit and life (Jn 6:64). This Word of the Father—so
worthy, so holy and glorious—the Father of heaven has announced by Saint
Gabriel His angel in the womb of the holy and glorious Virgin Mary, from
whose womb He received the true flesh of humanity and of our fragility.
He whom, although you say is (2 Cor 8:9) above all things, willed in the
world with the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, to chose poverty. And near
His passion He celebrated the passover with His disciples and taking bread
He gave thanks and He blessed it and broke it saying: "Take
and eat, this is My Body." (Mt 26:26) And taking the chalice
He said: "This is My Blood of the new testament, which for you
and for the many will be poured out in remission of sins." (Mt
26:27) Then He prayed to the Father saying: "Father, if it can
be done, let this chalice pass from me." And His sweat became
as drops of blood flowing down upon the earth (Lk 22:44). However, he layed
down his own will for the will of the Father, saying: "Father,
Thy will be done" (Mt 26:42); "not as I will, but
as Thou" (Mt. 26:39). Of whose Father such was the will, that
His Son, blest and glorious, whom He gave to us and who was born for us,
would offer his very self through His own Blood as a Sacrifice and Victim
upon the altar, not for His own sake, through whom all things were made
(cf. Jn 1:3), but for the sake of our sins, leaving us an example, so that
we may follow in his footsteps (cf 1 Pet 2:21). And He willed that all
might be saved through Him and that we might receive Him with a pure
heart and our own chaste body. But there are few, who want to receive Him
and be saved by Him, though His yoke is sweet and His burden light (cf.
Mt: 11:30). Those who do not want to taste how sweet the Lord is (cf. Ps
33:9) and love shadows more than the Light (Jn 3:19) not wanting to fulfill
the commands of God, are cursed; concerning whom it is said through the
prophet: "Cursed are they who turn away from Thy commands."
(Ps 118:21). But, o how blessed and blest are those who love God and who
do as the Lord himself says in the Gospel: "Love the Lord thy God
with your whole heart and with your whole mind and your neighbor as your
very self (Mt 22:37.39). Let us therefore love God and adore Him with a
pure heart and a pure mind, since He Himself seeking above all has said:
"True adorers will adore the Father in spirit and truth."
(Jn 4:23) For it is proper that all, who adore Him, adore Him in the spirit
of truth (cf. Jn 4:24). And let us offer (lit."speak to") Him
praises and prayer day and night (Ps 31:4) saying: "Our Father
who art in Heaven" (Mt 6:9), since it is propter that we always
pray and not fail to do what we might (Lk 18:1). If indeed we should confess
all our sins to a priest, let us also receive the Body and Blood of Our
Lord Jesus Christ from him. He who does not eat His Flesh and does not
drink His Blood (cf. Jn 6:55.57), cannot enter into the Kingdom of God
(Jn 3:5). However let him eat and drink worthily, since he who receives
unworthily eats and drinks judgement for himself, and he does not dejudicate
the Body of the Lord (1 Cor 11:29), that is he does not discern it. In
addition let us bring forth fruits worthy of penance (Lk 3:8). And let
us love our neighbors as our very selves (cf. Mt 22:39). And if one does
not want to love them as his very self, at least he does not charge them
with wicked things, but does good (to them). Moreover let those who have
received the power of judging others exercise it with mercy, just as they
themselves wish to obtain mercy from the Lord. For there will be judgment
without mercy for those who have not shown mercy (James 2:13). And so let
us have charity and humility; and let us give alms, since this washes souls
from the filth of their sins (cf. Tob 4:11; 12:9). For men lose everything,
which they leave in this world; however they carry with them the wages
of charity and the alms, which they gave, for which they will have from
the Lord a gift and worthy recompense. We should also fast and abstain
from vices and sins (cf Sir 3:32) and from a superfluity of food and drink
and we shold be catholics. We should also frequently visit churches and
venerate the clerics and revere them, not only for their own sake, if they
be sinners, but for the sake of their office and administration of the
Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which they sanctify
upon the altar and receive and administer to others. And let us all know
firmly, since no one can be saved, except through the words and blood of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, which the clerics speak, announce and minister.
And only they should minister and not others. Moreover the religious especially,
who have renounced the world, are bound to do more and greater things,
but not to give up these (cf. Lk 11:42). We should hold our bodies, with
their vices and sins, in hatred, since the Lord says in the Gospel: "All
wicked things, vices an sins, come forth from the heart."
(Mt 15:18-19) We should love our enemies and do good to them, who hold
us in hatred (cf. Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27). We should also deny ourselves (cf.
Mt 16:24) and place our bodies under the yoke of servitude and holy obedience,
just as each one has promised the Lord. And no man is bound out of obedience
to obey anyone in that, where crime or sin is committed. However to him
whom obedience has been committed and whom is held to be greater, let him
be as the lesser (Lk 22:26) and the servant of the other friars. And let
him show and have mercy for each one of his brothers, as he would want
done to himself, if he were in a similar case. Nor let him grow angry with
a brother on account of the crime of a brother, but with all patience and
humility let him kindly admonish and support him. We should not be wise
and prudent according to the flesh, but rather we should be simple, humble
and pure. And let us hold our bodies in opprobrium and contempt, since
on account of our own fault we are all wretched and putrid, fetid and worms,
just as the Lord say through the prophet: "I am a worm
and no man, the opprobium of men and the abject of the people."
(Ps 21:7) Let us never desire to be above others, but rather we should
desire that upon all men and women, so long as they will have done these
things and persevered even to the end, the Spirit of the Lord might rest
(Is 11:2) and fashion in them His little dwelling and mansion (cf. Jn 14:23).
And they will be the Heavenly Father's (cf Mt 5:45), whose works they do.
And they are spouses, brothers and mothers of Our Lord Jesus Christ (cf.
Mt 12:5). We are spouses, when the faithful soul is joined by the Holy
Spirit to Jesus Christ. For we are brothers, when we do the will of His
Father, who is in heaven (cf. Mt 12:50); mothers when we bear Him in our
heart and body (1 Cor 6:20) by love and by a pure and sincere conscience;
we give birth to Him through holy work, which should shine upon others
as an example (cf Mt 5:16). O how glorious and holy and great to have in
Heaven a Father! O how holy, to have a Paraclete, beautiful and admirable,
as a spouse! O how holy and how beloved, pleasing, humble, peaceable, sweet
and lovable and above all things desirable to have such a Brother and Son,
who layed down his life for His sheep in the world, "they were
Thine and Thou has given them to Me." (Jn 17:6) "And
the words, which Thou has given to me, I have given to them; And they have
received these and know truly, that I have gone forth from Thee and
they have believed, that Thou has sent Me" (Jn 17:8); "I
beg for them and not for the world" (cf Jn 17:9); "Bless
and sanctify them." (Jn 17:17). And "for them I sanctify
My very self, so that they may be sanctified in" one (cf.
Jn 17:19) "just as we" are (cf. Jn 17:6). And "I
wish, Father, that where I am they also may be with Me, so that they may
see My brightness" (Jn 17:24) "in Thy Kingdom"
(Mt 20:21). For Him, moreover, who endured so many thing for us, conferred
all good things and who will confer them in the future, let every creature,
which is in Heaven, on earth and in the abyss return praise, glory, honor,
and blessing to God (cf Apoc 5:13), since He Himself is our virtue and
strength, who is the only Good, the only Most High, the only Almighty,
admirable, glorious and who alone is holy, worthy of praise and blest throughout
the infinite ages of ages. Amen. Moreover all those, who are in penance
and do not receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and work
vices and ins, and who walk after wicked concupiscence and wicked desires,
and who do not observe, what they have promised, and serve the world bodily
with carnal desires, cares and the anxieties of this age and the cares
of this live, having been deceived by the devil, whose sons they are and
whose works they do (cf Jn 8:41), are blind, since they do not see the
True Light, Our Lord Jesus Christ. They do not have spiritual wisdom, who
do not have the Son of God in themselves, He who is the True Wisdom of
the Father; concerning these it is said: "Their wisdom has been swallowed
up." (Ps 106:27) They see, they do not acknowledge, they know and
they do wicked things; and they knowingly lookse thier souls. See, blind
ones, deceived by our enemies, namely, by the flesh, by the world, and
by the devil, since sweet to the body is the working of sin and bitter
the serving of God, since all wicked things, vices and sins come forth
and proceed from the heart of men (cf. Mk 7:21.23), just as the Lord says
in the Gospel. And you will have nothing in this age nor in the one to
come. You think you will posses the vanities of this age for a long time,
but you are deceived, since there will come the day and hour, of which
you do not think or know or pay attention. The body weakens, death approches,
there comes neighbors and friends saying: "Dispose of your things."
Behold his wife and his sons and neighbors and friends feign weeping. And
looking back he sees them weeping, he is moved by a wicked emotion; thinking
within himself he says: "Behold my soul and body and all my things
I place in your hands." Truly, this man is cursed, who confides and
casts his soul and body and all his things into such hands; whence the
Lord through the prophet: "Cursed the man who confides in man."
(Jer 17:5) And immediately they make the priest come; the priest says to
him: "Do you want to receive a penance on account of all your sins?"
He answers: "I do wish it." "Do you wish to satisfy on account
of the sins you committed and those things of which you have defrauded
and deceived men, as you are able from your substance?" He answers:
"No." And the priest says; "Why not?" "Since I
have disposed of everthing into the hands of my neighbors and friends."
And he begins to loose speech and so than man dies a wretch. But let all
know, that wheresoever and howsoever a man die in culpable sin without
satisfaction and he can make satisfaction and he does not make satisfaction,
the devil tears his souls from his body with such anguish and tribulation,
that no one can know how much, except he who experiences it. And all the
talents and power and knowledge, which he used to think he had (cf. Lk
8:18), is born away from him (Mk 4:25). And he leaves neighbors and friends,
and they bear off and divide his substance and say afterwards: "Cursed
be his soul, since he could have given us more and acquired what he did
not acquire." Worms eat the body; and so perishes body and soul in
this brief age and he will go into Hell, where he will be tortured without
end. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I friar Francis, your lesser servant, beg and entreat you in the charity,
which God is (cf 1 Jn 4:16), and willingly kissing your feet, that you
should receive and put into practice and observe these words and the others
of Our Lord Jesus Christ with humily and charity. And all those men and
women, who kindly receive these, understand them and send others copies,
and if they persevere in these even to the end (Mt. 24:13), may them the
Father and Son and Holy Spirit bless. Amen.

The Letter to Friar Leo [EpLeo]

Friar Leo, friar Francis (sends) greetings and peace. I say to
you thus, my son, as a mother: since all the words which we have said on
the road, I arrange briefly in this words (sic) and counsel, and if afterwards
counsel is fitting (for you ?) (regarding) coming to me, since as counsel
(I say) to you thus: "In whatever manner it seems better to you to
please the Lord God and to follow His footstep (sic) and poverty, do with
the blessing of the Lord God and my obedience. And, if it is a neccessity
to you that your soul on account of anything (have) its consolation, and
you want to, Leo, come to me, come."

A Rule given for those in hermitages

(The number of) those, who wish to remain religiously in hermitages
may be three or as much as four; let two of these be the mothers and let
them have two sons or at least one. These two are mothers, they shoulobserve
the life of Martha and the two sons should observe the life of Mary (cf.
Lk 10:38-42) and should have one cloister, in which each one has his own
cell, in which he might pray and sleep. And let them always say the Compline
of the day immediately after sunset; and let them strive to keep silence;
and let them say their Hours; and let them rise for Matins and seek first
the Kingdom of God and His justice (Mt. 6:33). And let them say Prime in
the hour it occurs and after terce they are absolved from silence; and
they can speak and go to their mothers. And, when it may please (them),
they may seek from these alms just as poor children do for the love of
the Lord God. And afterwards let them say Sext and Nones; and let them
say Vespers in the hour it occurs. And in the cloister, where they are
staying, they should not permit any person to enter nor eat there. Those
friars, who are mothers, let them strive to remain far from every person;
and in obedience to their minister let them guard their sons from every
person, so that no one may speak with them. And the sons should not speak
with any person except their mothers and with the minister and their custode,
which it might please them to visit with the blessing of the Lord God.
Truly let the sons, whenever they assume the office of the mothers, as
alternatively for them for a time it will have seemed to have been arranged,
strive to observe it sollicitiously and studiously according to all the
abovesaid things.

The Praises of God Most High

Thou art the Holy Lord, the Only God, who works miracles (Ps. 76:15)
Thou art strong, Thou art great (cf. Ps 85:10), Thou are the Most Hight,
Thou art King Eternal, Thou Holy Father (cf. Jn 17:11) King of Heaven and
earth. (Mt 11:25)

The Blessing given to Friar Leo

May the Lord bless thee and keep thee; may He show His faice to thee
and be merciful to thee. May He turn His countenance to thee and give thee
peace (cf. Num 6:24-26). May the Lord bless, friar Leo, Thee. (cf. Num
6:27b)

An Exhortation to praise God

Fear the Lord and give Him honor (Apoc. 14:7).
Worthy is the Lord to receive praise and honor (cf. Apoc 4:11)
All who fear the Lord, praise Him (cf. Ps 21:24)

This is the day which the Lord has made, let us exult and rejoice in it.
(Ps. 117:24)
Alleluia, Alleuia, Alleluia! King of Israel! (John 12:13)

Every spirit praise the Lord. (Ps. 150:6)
Prasie the Lord, since He is Good. (Ps. 146:1)
All you who read this, bless the Lord. (Ps. 102:21)

All you creatures bless the Lord. (cf. Ps. 102:22)
All you birds of heaven praise the Lord. (Dan 3:90; cf. Ps 148:7-10)
All you children praise the Lord. (cf Ps 112:1)
You youths and virgins praise God (cf. Ps 148:12)

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive praise, glory and honor
(cf. Apoc 5:12).

Blessed be the Holy Trinity and undivided Unity.

St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle.

The Exposition of the Our Father [ExpPat]

O Most Holy Our Father: Creator, Redeemer, Consolor and
Our Savior.

Who art in Heaven: in the Angels and in the Saints; enlightening
them unto knowlege, since Thou, Lord, art Light; inflaming them unto love,
since Thou, Lord, art Love; indwelling and filling them unto blessedness,
since Thou, Lord, art the Highest, the Eternal Good, from whom is all good,
without whom nothing is good.

Hallowed be Thy Name: may the knowledge of Thee in us
be made bright, so that we may know, what is the breadth (cf. Ep 3:18)
of Thy kindnesses, the length of Thy promises, the sublimity of Thy Majesty
and the depth of Thy judgements.

Thy Kingdom come: so that Thou may reignest in us by grace
and makes us come unto Thy Kingdom, where vision of Thee is made manifest,
love of Thee made perfect, company with Thee blessed, enjoyment of Thee
everlasting.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven: so that
we may love Thee with our whole heart (cf. Lk 10:27) thinking of Thee always,
with our whole soul desiring Thee always, with our whole mind directing
unto Thee all our intentions, seeking Thy honor in all things and with
all our strength expending our every strength and sense of soul and body
in submission to Thy love and nothing else; and may we love our neighbors
as ourselves drawing all to Thy love to the extent of our abilities, rejoicing
over the good things of others just as over our own and compassionating
them in evils and giving offense to no one (cf. 2 Cor 6:3).

Give us this day,Thy beloved Son, Our Lord
Jesus Christ, our daily bread: to remember and understand
and reverence the love—which He had for us— and those things, which He
did, said or endured for us.

And forgive us our debts: by Thy ineffable mercy, through
the virtue of the Passion of Thy beloved Son and by the merits and intercession
of the Blessed Virgin and all Thy elect.

As we forgive our debtors: and what we do not fully forgive,
may Thou, Lord, make us, fully forgive, so that we may truly love our enemies
for the sake of Thee and intercede devoutly for them with Thee, returning
to none evil for evil (cf. 1 Thes 5:15) and striving to advance all unto
Thee.

And lead us not into temptation: hidden or manifest, suddent
or importune.

But deliver us from evil: past, present, and future.

Glory to the Father, ....

A Prayer before a crucifix [OrCruc]

Most High, glorious God, enlighten the shadows of my heart, and grant
unto me a right faith, a certain hope and perfect charity, sense and understanding,
Lord, so that I may accomplish Thy holy and true command.

A Salutation to the Blessed Virgin Mary [SalBMV]

Hail Lady, Holy Queen, Holy Mary Theotokos,1
who art the Virgin made church and the One elect by the Most Holy Father
of Heaven, whom He consecrated with His Most Holy beloved Son and with
the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; Thou in whom was and is all fulness of
grace and every good.

Hail His Palace;
Hail His Tabernacle;
Hail His Home.

Hail His Vestment;
Hail His Handmaid;
Hail His Mother
And hail all you holy virtues, which through the grace and illumination
of the Holy Spirit are infused into the hearts of the faithful, so that
from those unfaithful you make them faithful to God.

1While St. Francis
uses the phrase "Dei genitrix" here, which is usually
translated as "Mother of God" in English, "Theotokos"
has been chosen instead since this is an exact and familiar equivalent
of the latin phrase, and in fact is the term of which the latin is itself
the translation.

Most holy virtues, the Lord salute all of you, He from whom you come
and proceed.
There is scarcely a man in all the world, who can have one of you, before
he dies.
He who has one and offends not the others, has all.
And he who offends one, has none and offends all. (cf. Jm 2:10)
And any whatsoever confounds vices and sins.

Holy Wisdom confounds satan and all his wickednesses.
Pure Holy Simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world (cf. 1 Cor.
2:6) and the wisdom of the body.
Holy Poverty confounds cupidity and avarice and the cares of this world.
Holy Humility confounds pride and all the men, who are in the world, and
likewise all the things, which are in the world.
Holy Charity confounds all the diabolic and carnal temptations and all
carnal fears.
Holy Obedience confounds all things corporal both carnal and one's own
willings and holds the body mortified in obedience to the spirit and in
obedience to one's brother and is subject and submissive to all the men,
who are in the world and not only to men, but even to all the beasts and
wildlife, so that they might do with him, whatever they will, as much as
it will have been given them from above by the Lord (cf. Jn 19:11).

The Canticle of Brother Sun or The
Praises of the Creatures

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.

A Letter to a certain Minister Provincial [EpMin]

May the Lord bless you, Friar N. minister (cf. Num 6:24a). I tell you,
as I can, for the state of your soul, that those things which impede
you to love the Lord God, and whatever else would be an impediment for
you or the other friars, even if they whip you, all these you ought to
hold on to for the sake of grace. And want it so and not something else.
And let this be for you by a true obedience from the Lord God and from
myself, because I know firmly, that such is a true obedience. And love
them who do these things to you. And do not desire anything from them,
except as much as the Lord will give you [to desire it]. And in this love
them; and do not wand that they be better christians. And lest that be
more to you than a hermitage. And in this I want you to know, if you
love the Lord and myself, His servant and yours, that if you do that, namely
that there be no friar in the world, who will have sinned, as much as one
can sin, who, after he has seen your eyes, will never leave without your
mercy, if he seeks mercy. And if he does not seek mercy, you are to ask
from him, if he wants mercy. And if he would sin a thousand times before
your eyes, love him more than me for this, that you draw him to the Lord;
and you will always pity such ones. And you will announce this to the guardians,
when you can, that you are firmly decided to do such yourself.

Moreover out of all the chapters, which are in the Rule, which speak
of mortal sins, with the Lord helping, we will make such a chapter with
the counsel of the friars in the Pentecost Chapter:

If any of the friars at the instigation of the enemy will have sinned
mortally, he is bound by obedience to have recourse to his own guardian.
And all the friars, who know him to have sinned, are not to shame him nor
utter detraction against him, but let them have great mercy upon him and
keep very private the sin of their brother; "because a doctor is
not needed" by the healthy, "but by those who are sick."
(Mt 9:12) Similarly they are bound by obedience to absolve him canonically,
just as has been said. And these are to have entirely no power of enjoining
any other penance except this: "Go and sin no more." (cf.
John 8:11)

This was written, so that you should observe it better; keep it with
you until Pentecost; be there with your friars. And this and all other
things, which are lesser in the rule, with the Lord God helping, you will
take care to fulfill.

A letter sent to the whole Order, along with
the prayer "Omnipotent eternal.."

In the Name of the highest Trinity and Holy Unity of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

To all the reverend and much beloved friars, to
friar N., Minister General of the religion of the Friars Minor, their lord,
and to the others, who will be Ministers General after him, and to all
the ministers and custodes and humble priests in Christ of the same fraternity
and to all the simple and obedient friars, first and last, Friar Francis,
vile and fallen, your tiny little servant, sends greetings in Him who redeemed
and washed us in His most precious Blood (cf. Apoc 1:5),
upon hearing whose Name, you are to adore Him with fear and reverence "prostrate
upon the ground" (cf. 2 Esdr 8:6), the Lord Jesus Christ, "Son
of the Most High" is His Name (cf. Lk 1:32), "who is blessed
throughout the ages." (Rom 1,25)

Listen, sons of the Lord and brothers mine, "and turn your ears
to my words" (Acts 2:14). "Incline the ear" (Is
55:3) of your heart and obey the voice of the Son of God. Keep with all
your heart His mandates and fulfill His counsels with a pure mind. "Confess"
Him "since He is good" (Ps 135:1), and "exalt"
Him "in your works" (Tob 13:6); "since for that
reason" He sent you (cf Tob 13:4) into the whole world, so that
by word and work you may give testimony to His voice and make all know,
that "there is no Omnipotent besides Him" (cf Tob 13:4).
"In discipline" and holy obedience "persevere"
(Heb 12:7) and fulfill what you have promised Him with a good and firm
resolution. May the Lord "God" offer us "as sons"
to Himself. (cf Heb 12:7)

And so I entreat all of you friars with a kiss upon your feet and with
that charity, of which I am able, to exhibit every reverence and every
honor, as much as you can, to the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, in whom everything in the heavens and everything on earth
are, are pacified and are reconciled to the omnipotent God (cf Col 1:20)

I beg also in the Lord that all your my friar priests, who are or will
be or desire to be priests of the Most High, that whensoever you may want
to celebrare Mass, you do so pure and faultlessly with reverence to the
true sacrifice of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
with a holy and clean intention, not for any earthly thing for out of fear
of love for any human, as pleasers of men do (cf Eph 6:6; Col 3:22); but
let every will, as much as grace helps it, be directed to God, desiring
for that reason to please solely the Highest Lord Himself, because He alone
is at work there, as it pleases Him; since just as He himself says "Do
this in My memory" (Lk 22,19; 1 Cor 11,24), if anyone would do
otherwise, he would become the traitor, Judas, and be "answerable
for the Body and Blood of the Lord " (cf 1 Cor 11:27).

Remember my friar priests, what is written in the law of Moses, how
one transgressing in corporals things died without any pity by the
sentance of the Lord (cf Heb 10:28). "How much" more and
"worse" does one merit to suffer "torments, who
tramples underfoot the Son of God and reckons the Blood of the Testament,
in which he was sanctified, to be defiled, and insults the Spirit of grace"
(Heb 10:29). For a man despises, defiles, and tramples underfoot the Lamb
of God, when, as the Apostles says, "not recognizing"
(1 Cor 11:29) nor discerning the Christ's sacred Bread from other foods
or works, or eating unworthily or even, if he is worthy, eating vainly
and as one unworthy, since the Lord says through the Prophet: "Cursed
be" the man, "who" does the work of God "fraudulently"
(cf Jer 48:10). And the priests, who do not want to keep this at heart,
He in truth condemns saying: "I will curse your blessings"
(Mal 2:2).

Listen, my friars: if the blessed Virgin is so honored, as is right,
because She carried Him in Her most holy womb; if the blessed Baptist tremebled
and did not dare to touch the crown of the head [sanctum verticem] of God;
if the sepulcher, in which He layed for some time is so venerated, how
holy, just and worthy ought he to be, who holds in his hands and receives
in the mouth and offers to others to be received Him who will die no more,
but who will forever conquer and be glorified, upon whom "the angels
long to gaze" (1 Pt 1:12)?

"See your" dignity, "friar" (cf 1
Cor 1:26) priests, and be holy, because He himself is Holy (cf Lv 19:2).
And just as beyond all others on account of this ministery the Lord God
has honored you, so even you are to love, revere, and honor Him beyond
all others. Great miseries and miserable infirmity, when you hold Him so
near and you care for anything else in the whole world. Let the entire
man tremble with fear, let the whole world begin to tremble, and let heaven
exult, when there is upon the Altar in the hand of the priest "Christ,
the Son of the living God" (Jn 11:27)! O admirable height and
stupendous esteem! O lofty humility! O humble loftiness, which the
Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself; that
for our salvation under the limited, little form of bread, hides Himself!
See, friars, the humility of God and "pour out your hearts before
Him" (Ps 61:9); humble even youselves, so that you may be exalted
by Him (cf 1 Pt 5:6; Jm 4:10). Therefore keep nothing of yourselves for
yourselves, so that He may receive you whole, because He manifests Himself
wholely to you.

I warn you therefore and exhort you in the Lord, that in the places,
in which the friars are staying, only one Mass be celebrated during the
day according to the manner [formam] of Holy Church. If in fact there are
very many priests in the place, let each be content by means of the love
of charity to hear the celebration of the other priest; because Jesus Christ
fulfills [replet] those present and absent, who are worthy of Him. Who,
though He seems to be in very many places, remains however indivisible
and knows no loss, but Himself one everywhere, as may please Him,
works with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, unto the ages
of ages. Amen.

And, because "he who is" from God "hears the
words of God" (cf John 8:47), we, who have been more especially
charged with the divine services, should not only hear and do, what the
Lord says, but also take care to instill in ourselves the height of Our
Creator and in our subjection to Him to guard the vessels and other appurtenances,
which contain in His holy words. On that account I warn all my friars and
in Christ I urge them, to this extent, that wheresoever they might find
the divine words written, let them venerate them, as they are able, and,
in as much as it pertains to them, if they be not stored well or if they
lay dishonorably scattered in some place, they are to gather them together
and store them once again, honoring in their speech the Lord, "who
spoke these things" (3 Kg 2:4). For many things are sanctified
by the words of God (cf 1 Tm 4:5), and in virtue of the words of Christ
the Sacrament of the Altar is confected.

Furthermore I confess all my sins to the Lord God, Father and Son
and Holy Spirit, to the Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin and to all the saints
in Heaven and on earth, to friar N. the Minister of our religion, as to
my venerable lord, and to the priests of our Order and to all my other
blest friars. In many things I have offended out of my own grave fault,
in particular that I have not kept the Rule, which I have promised the
Lord, nor have I said the office, as the Rule commands, whether out of
negligence or the occasion of my infirmity or because I am ignorant
and an idiot. And therefore by all means I pray, as I am able, that
friar N. my lord Minister General, have the Rule inviolably observed by
all; and have the clerics say the office with devotion in the presence
of God [coram Deo], not attending to melody of voice, but to the consonance
of mind, so that voice agrees with mind, and mind indeed agrees with God,
so that they might be able by purity of heart to please God and not with
playfulness [lascivitate] of voice to tickle [demulcere] the ears of the
people. For I promise to keep these things firmly, as the Lord might give
me the grace; and that I will teach the friars, who are with me, that these
things are to be observed in the office and in the other things established
by the Rule. Whosoever of the friars, however, might not want to observe
these things, I do not consider catholic nor my friars; I do not want
even to see them nor speak with them, until they have done penance. I say
this too concerning all others, who go about wandering, foregoing the discipline
of the Rule; since Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His own life, rather than
squander His obedience to His Most Holy Father (cf Phil 2:8).

I, friar Francis, a useless and unworthy creature of the Lord God, by
means of Our Lord Jesus Christ tell friar N., the Minister of our entire
religion and all the Ministers General, who will be after him, and all
the custodes and guardians of the friars, who are and will be, to keep
this writing with them, to read it and to studiously copy it. And I prevail
upon them [exoro ipsos] to sollicitiously keep and diligently to have those
things, which are written in it, observed according to the good pleasure
of the Omnipotent God, now and always, so long as this world shall be.

He blesses you by the Lord (Ps 113,13), who made it and may the
Lord be with you forever. Amen.

Omnipotent, Eternal, just and merciful God,
grant to us wretches that doing for Thy sake, what we know Thou wants,
and always wanting, what pleases Thee, as ones interiorly cleansed, interiorly
illumined and inflamed with the fire of the Holy Spirit, we might follow
the footsteps of Thy Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and attain to
Thee, Most High, by Thy grace alone, who in perfect Trinity and simple
Unity lives and reigns and is glorified as the Omnipotent God, for all
the ages of ages. Amen.

A Letter to the Rulers of the nations

To all the authorities and consuls, judges and rulers of whatever lands
and to all others, to whom these letters may come, Friar Francis, your
tiny and despised servant in the Lord God, chooses to send greetings and
peace to you all.

Consider and see, that the day of death approaches (cf Gen 47:29). I
beg you therefore with reverance, as I am able, on account of the cares
and sollicitudes of this age not to surrender the Lord to forgetfulness
nor to turn away from His mandates, because all those, "who"
surrender Him to forgetfulness and "turn away from" His
"mandates" have been "cursed" (cf Ps
118:21) and by Him "they will be surrendered to forgetfulness"
(Ez 33:13). And since the day of death wil come, everything, which they
think they have, will be borne away from them (cf Lk 8:18). And, in as
much as they were wiser and more powerful in this world, so much greater
will be the torments they will endure in Hell (cf Ws 6:7).

Whence I firmly counsel you, my lords, to consider of less account
all care and sollicitude and to kindly receive the Most Holy Body and Blood
of Our Lord Jesus Christ during His holy commemoration [i.e. the Sacrifice
of the Mass]. And to confer upon the people committed to you by the
Lord such an honor, that on whatever evening there be announced by a messanger
or by another sign, by which praises and thanks are to be given to the
omnipotent Lord God by all the people. And, if you will not do this, know
that you must render "an account on the day of judgement"
in the presence of your Lord Jesus Christ (cf Mt 12:36).

This has been written so that they who will have kept it with them and
observed it, may know themselves blessed by the Lord God.

The Form of Life given to Saint Clare
[FormViv]

Because you have by divine inspiration made yourselves daughters and
handmaids of the Most High and Highest King, the Heavenly Father, and have
espoused yourselves to the Holy Spirit by choosing to live according to
the perfection of the Holy Gospel: I want and promise that I and my Friars
will always exercise a diligent care and special sollicitude concerning
yourselves just as for them.

Fragments of another non-approved Rule,
taken from the Codex of Worcester

YET TO BE PUBLISHED

Fragments of another non-approved Rule,
found in Hugo of Digne's "Expositione super regulam Fratrum Minorem"

YET TO BE PUBLISHED

Praises to be said at every hour

Here begin the praises which our most blessed
Father Francis ordained and himself said at every hour of the day and night
and before the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, beginning thus: Most
Holy, Our Father who art in heaven, etc..with
the Glory be.Then
the praises are to be said:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, who is and who was and who is to come (cf Apoc 4:8) :
And let us praise and exalt Him above all throughout the ages.Worthy are Thee, Our Lord God, to accept praise,
glory and honor, and blessing (cf Apoc 4:11) : And let us
praise and exalt Him above all throughout the ages.Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to accept
virtue and riches1 and wisdom and fortitude and honor
and glory and blessing (Apoc 5:12) : And let
us praise and exalt Him above all throughout the ages.Let us bless the Father and the Son with the Holy
Spirit : And let us praise and exalt Him above all throughout the
ages.
All you works of the Lord bless the Lord (Dan 3:57) : And let us
praise and exalt Him above all throughout the ages.Recite praise to Our God all you His servants and
you who fear God, tiny and great (cf Apoc 19:5) : And let
us praise and exalt Him above all throughout the ages.Praise Him the Glorious One you heavens and earth
(cf Ps 68:35; Ps Rom) : And let us praise and exalt Him above all
throughout the ages.And every creature, which is in Heaven
and on the earth and which is beneath the earth and the sea and
those which are in it (cf Apoc 5:13) : And
let us praise and exalt Him above all throughout the ages.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the
Holy Spirit : And let us praise and exalt
Him above all throughout the ages.As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be always
and unto the ages of ages. AmenAnd let us praise and exalt Him above all throughout the ages.

Prayer

Omnipotent, Most Holy, Most High, and Highest God,
all good, highest Good, wholely good, who alone is good (cf Lk 18:19),
to Thee do we render all praise, all glory, all thanks, all honor, all
blessing and all goods. So be it. So be it. Amen.

1"Divinity"
is the litteral rendering of the Vulgate here, which however differs from
the Greek text, which has "riches." [pluton]In
fact in classical usage, "riches" [divitia] and "divinity"
[divinitas] were often exhanged in Latin (and similarly in Greek) on account
of the close association of the God of wealth [Dives / Pluto] with the
nature of Divinity in itself; perhaps the most literal translation would
be "the riches of divinity," that is the divine glory
which the Son of God forsook, for a time, in becoming the Son of Mary,
and with which the Father again glorified Him in His Resurrection.

The Office of the Passion of the Lord

The Regula Bullata

Chapter I

The Rule and life of the Friars Minor is this, namely, to observe the
Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by living in obedience, without anything
of one's own, and in chastity.

Friar Francis promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Honorius
and his canonically elected successors, and to the Roman Church; and the
other friars are bound to obey Friar Francis and his successors.

Chapter II

Concerning those who wish to adopt this life, and how they should
be received.

If any would desire to adopt this life and would come to our brothers,
let them send them to their Ministers provincial, to whom alone, and not
to others, is the permission to receive friars conceded. Let the ministers
indeed examine them diligently concerning the Catholic Faith and the sacraments
of the Church.

And if they believe these things and want to observe them faithfully
and firmly unto the end, and they have no wives or, if they do, their wives
have already entered a monastery, or having taken a vow of continence,
permission [to enter one] has been granted to them by authority of the
bishop of the diocese, and the wives are of such an age that suspicion
cannot arise concerning them, let them say unto these the word of the Holy
Gospel (cf Mt 19:21), that they should go and sell all that is their own
and strive to give it to the poor. But if they cannot do this, a good will
suffices for them.

And let the friars and their ministers beware, lest they be sollicitous
concering their temporal things, so that they may freely do with their
own things, whatever the Lord will have inspired them. If however counsel
is required, let the ministers have permission to send them to other God
fearing men, by whose counsel their goods may be spent [erogentur] on the
poor. Afterwards let them grant them the clothes of probation, that is,
two tunics without a capuche, a cord [cingulum] , breeches, and a caparone
[extending] to the cord, unless it seems to the same ministers [that it
should be] otherwise according to God. Having truly finished the year of
probation, let them be received to obedience, promising to observe always
this life and Rule.

And in no manner will it be licit for them to go forth from this religious
institute [de ista religione exire], according to the command of the Lord
Pope, because according to the Holy Gospel "No one putting hand
to the plow and turning back is fit for the Kingdom of God." (Lk
9:62)

And let those who have already promised obedience have a tunic with
a capuche, and if they wish to have it, another without a capuche. And
let those who are driven by necessity be able to wear footwear. And let
all the friars wear cheep clothing and be able to patch these with sack-cloth
and other pieces with the blessing of God. I warn and exhort them, not
to despise nor judge men, whom they see clothed with soft and colored clothes,
using danty food and drink, but rather let each one judge and despise his
very self.

Chapter III

Concerning the divine office and fasting; and in what manner
the brothers ought to go through the world.

Clerics are to perform [faciant] the divine office according to the
Ordo of the Roman Church, except for the psalter, for which they can have
beviaries.

Let the laymen indeed say twenty-four "Our Fathers" for matins;
for lauds five ; for prime, terce, sext and none, for each of these seven,
for vespers, however, twelve; for compline seven; and let them pray for
the dead.

And let them fast from the Feast of All saints until Christmas. Indeed
may those who voluntaritly fast the holy lent, which begins at Ephiphany
and for the forty days that follow, which the Lord consecrated with His
own holy fast, be blessed by the Lord, and let those who do not wish [to
do so] not be constrained. But let them fast the other [lent] until the
[day of the] Resurrection of the Lord.

At other times however they are not bound to fast, except on fridays.
Indeed in time of manifest necessity the friars are not bound to the corporal
fast.

Indeed, I counsel, warn and exhort my friars in the Lord Jesus Christ,
that when they go about through the world, they are not to quarrel nor
contend in words (cf 2 Tim 2:14), nor are they to judge others, but they
are to be meek, peacible and modest, meek and humble, speaking uprightly
to all, as is fitting. And they should not ride horseback, unless they
are driven [to do so] by manifest necessity or infirmity.

Into whatever house they may enter, first let them say: "Peace
to this house." (cf Lk 10:5) And according to the Holy Gospel
it is lawful to eat of any of the foods, which are placed before them.
(cf Lk 10:8)

Chapter IV

That the brothers should not receive money.

I firmly command all the friars, that in no manner are they to receive
coins or money through themselves or through an interposed person. However
for the necessities of the infirm and for the clothing of the other friars,
only the ministers and the custodes are to conduct a sollicitous care,
by means of spiritual friends, according to places and seasons and cold
regions, as they see expedites necessity; with this always preserved, that,
as has been said, they do not receive coins nor money.

Chapter V

On the manner of working.

Let those friars, to whom the Lord gives the grace to work, work faithfully
and devotedly, in such a way that, having excluded idleness, the enemy
of the soul, they do not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion,
which all other temporal things should serve zealously [deservire]. Indeed
concerning the wages of labor, let them receive for themselves and for
their friars what is for the necessity of the body, except coins or money,
and this [they should do] humbly, as befits the servants of God and the
followers of most holy poverty.

Chapter VI

That the Friars are to appropriate nothing for themselves, and
concerning the begging of alms and sick friars.

Let the Friars appropriate nothing for themselves, neither house nor
place, nor any thing. And as pilgrims and exiles (cf 1 Pt 2:11) in this
age let them go about for alms confidently, as ones serving the Lord in
poverty and humility, nor is it proper that they be ashamed [to do so],
since the Lord made Himself poor in this world (cf 2 Cor 8:9) for us. This
is that loftiness of most high poverty, which has established you, my most
dear Friars, as heirs and kings of the Kingdom of Heaven, making you poor
in things, it has raised you high in virtues (cf Jm 2:5). Let this be your
"portion", which leads you "into the land of the
living" (cfr Ps 141,6). Cleaving totally to this, most beloved
Friars, may you want to have nothing other under heaven in perpetuity,
for the [sake of] the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

And, wherever the friars are and find themselves, let them mutually
show themselves to be among their family members. And let them without
fear manifest to one another their own need, since, if a mother nourishes
and loves her own son (cf 1 Th 2:7) according to the flesh, how much more
diligently should he love and nourish his own spiritual brother?

And, if any of them should fall into infirmity, the other friars should
care for him, as they would want to be cared for themselves.

Chapter VII

On the penance to be imposed on Friars who are sinning.

If any of the friars, at the instigation of the enemy, should sin mortally,
for those sins, concerning which it has be ordained among the friars, that
one have recourse to the Ministers provincial alone, the aforesaid friars
are bound to have recourse to them as soon as they can, without delay.
Indeed let the Ministers themselves, if they are priests, with mercy enjoin
upon them a penance; if indeed they are not priests, let them have it enjoined
by other priests of the order, as it will seem to them to better expedite
[the matter] according to God. And they should beware, not to grow angry
and be distressed on account of the sin of another, since anger and distress
impede charity in themselves and in others.

Chapter VIII

On the election of the Minister general of this fraternity;
and on the Chapter at Pentecost.

All the friars are bound to have always one of the friars of this very
same religion as Minister general and servant of the whole fraternity and
they are bound firmly to obey him. When he dies, let an election of a successor
be made by the Ministers provincials and the custodes in the Pentecost
Chapter, in which the ministers provincial are bound to convene at once
[or at the same time], wherever it will have been determined by
the minister general; and this once every three years or at another interval
greater or less, as it will have been ordained by the aforesaid minister.

And if at any time it may appear to all the Ministers provincial and
to the custodes, that the aforesaid minister is not sufficient for the
service and common utility of the friars, the aforesaid friars, to whom
the electing has been given, are bound in the Name of the Lord to choose
another another as their guard [in custodem]. Indeed, after the Pentecost
Chapter, let the ministers and custodes each be able, if they want and
if it will seem to be expedient for them, once in the same year to call
their friars together in chapter in their own custodies.

Chapter IX

On preachers.

Le the friars not preach in the diocese of any bishop, when he has spoken
against their [preaching]. And let no friar at all [penitus] dare preach
to the people, unless he will have been examined by the minister general
of this fraternity and approved, and there be conceded to him by the same
the office of preaching.

I also warn and exhort these same friars, that in preaching, that they
do, their expressions be considered and chaste (cf
Ps 11:7; 17:21), for [sake of] the utility and edification of the people,
by announcing to them vices and virtues, punishment and glory with brevity
of speech; since a brief word did the Lord speak upon the earth.
(cf Rom 9:28)

Chapter X

On the admonition and correction of the friars.

Let the friars, who are ministers and servants of the other friars,
visit and warn their friars and humbly and charitably correct them, not
commanding them anything which is contrary to their soul and our Rule.
Indeed let the friars, who are subjects, remember, that for the sake of
God they have renounced their own wills. Whence I firmly command them,
to obey thier ministers in all things which they have promised the Lord
to observe and which are not contrary to their soul or to our Rule. And
wherever the friars are, who know and understand, that they themselves
are not able to observe the rule spiritually, they should and can have
recourse to their ministers. Indeed let the ministers receive them charitably
and kindly and be so familiar with them, that they can speak to them and
act as lords with their servants; for so it should be, because the ministers
are the servants of all the friars.

Indeed I warn and exhort the friars in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they
beware of all pride, vain glory, envy, avarice (cf Lk 12:15),
care and sollicitude for this age, detraction and murmuring, and that those
who are ignorant of letters not care to learn letters; but let them strive,
so that above all things they should desire to have the Spirit of the Lord
and His holy operation, to pray always to Him with a pure heart and to
have humility, [and] patience in persecution and in infirmity, and to love
those who persecute and correct and accuse us, because the Lord says, "Love
your enemies, pray for those who persecute and calumniate you"
(Mt. 5:44). "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice's
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 5:10). "He
who has persevered until the end, however, will be saved" (Mt.
10:22).

Chapter XI

That the brothers should not enter the monasteries of nuns.

I frimly command all the brothers not to have suspicious company or
conversation with women, and not to enter the monasteries of nuns, except
those [friars] to whom special permission has been conceded by the Apostolic
See; neither are they to be godfathers of men or women [so that] scandal
may not arise on this account among the friars nor concerning them.

Chapter XII

Concerning those going among the Saracens and other infidels.

Let whoever of the friars who by divine inspiration wants to go among
the saracens and other infidels seek permission for that reason from thier
minister provincial. Indeed the ministers are to grant permission to go
to none, except those whom seems to be fit to be sent.

For which sake I enjoin the ministers by obedience, to seek from the
Lord Pope one of the cardinals of the Roman Church, who is to be the govenor,
protector, and corrector of this fraternity, so that always subject and
prostrate at the feet of this same Holy Church, stable in the Catholic
Faith (cf Col 1:23) we may observe, what we have firmly promised: the poverty
and humility and the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Regula non-Bullata

The Testament of Saint Francis

Thus did the Lord grant to me, friar Francis, to begin to do penance:
who when I was exceedingly in my sins, to see lepers seemed a bitter thing
to me. And the Lord Himself led me among them and I worked mercy
among them. And when I was fleeing from them, because it seemed to be a
bitter thing, it was changed for me in to sweetness of soul and body; and
I remained for a little while afterward and [then] I went forth from
the world [de saeculo]. And the Lord granted me such faith in churches,
that I would pray simply and say: "We adore Thee, Lord Jesus Christ,
and for1 all Thy churches, which are in the whole world
[mundo], we also bless Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed
the world [mundum]." Afterwards the Lord granted me and grants so
much faith in priests, who live according to the form of the Holy Roman
Church on account of their state in life [propter ordinem], that if they
would stir up a persecution against me, I want (sic) to have recourse
to these. And if I would have as much wisdom, as Solomon had, and I would
come upon the little poor priests of this age, in the parishes, where they
stay, I do not wish to preach beyond their will [to do so]. And they and
all other [priests] I want to fear, love, and honor, as my lords.
And I do not want to consider sin in them, because I discern in them
the Son of God, and they are my lords. And I do that on account of this,
because I see nothing corporally in this age of the Most High Son of God
Himself, except His Most Holy Body and Most Holy Blood, which they receive
and which they alone minister to others. And these most holy Mysteries
I want above all things to honor, to venerate and to place in precious
places. Wherever I find written the most holy Names and His words in unlawful
places, I want to gather them together and I pray, that they are gathered
together and placed together in an honorable place. And all theologians
and those, who minister the most sacred divine words, we should honor and
venerate, as those who minister to us spirit and life (cf Jn 6:64).

And after the Lord made me a grant of friars [dedit de fratribus], no
one showed me, what I ought to do, but the Most High Himself revealed to
me, that I ought to live according the the form of the Holy Gospel. And
I with a few words and simply had it written and the Lord Pope confirmed
it for me. And those who were coming to receive life, used to give "all
that they possibly had" (Tob 1,3) to the poor; and they used to
be content with one tunic, patched [repeciata] inside and out, with a cincture
[cingulo] and with breeches. And we did not use to want to have more. We
clerics used to say the office according to [or "along with"]
the other clergy, the lay brothers used to say the Our Father; and we used
to stay quite freely in the churches. And we used to be idiots and subject
to all. And I used to work with my hands, and I want to work; and all the
other brothers I firmly want, that they should work at their job, because
this pertains to honesty. Those who do not know how, let them learn, not
on account of the cupidity to receive a price for work, but on account
of the example it gives to repell idleness. And when the price for the
work is not given to us, let us have recourse to the table of the Lord,
by asking for alms from door to door. The Lord revealed to me a greeting,
that we should say: "The Lord grant you peace!" Let all the friars
beware of themselves, so that the churches, the little poor, little dwellings
and everthing, which are constructed for them, they do not inwardly receive,
unless they be, as befits the holy poverty, which we have promised in the
Rule, always dwelling there as strangers and pilgrims (cf 1 Pet 2, 11).
I firmly command all the friars by obedience, that wherever they are, they
do not dare to seek any letter in the Roman Curia, by means of themselves
nor by an interposed person, nor on behalf of a church nor on behalf of
another place nor under the appearance of preaching nor because of a persecution
of their bodies; but wheresoever they have not been received, let them
flee into another land to do penance with the blessing of God.

And I firmly want to obey the Minister General of this fraternity and
any guardian, whom it would please him to give me. And I want to be so
captive in his hands, that I would not be able to go or do beyond obedience
and his will, because he is my lord. And although I am simple and infirm,
nevertheless I want to always have a cleric, who will recite [faciat] the
office for me, as is contained in the Rule. And all the other friars are
bound to likewise obey their guardians and recite [facere] the office according
to the rule. And those, who are found, which (sic) would not recite
[facerent] the office according to the Rule, and want to vary it in another
manner, or are not catholics, all the friars, wheresoever they might find
any of these, ought to present them before the nearest custos of that place,
where they found him. And the custos is firmly bound by obedience to guard
him strongly, just like a man in chains day and night, so that he is not
able to be snatched from their hands, until he in person presents him into
the hands of his Minister. And the minister is firmly bound by obedience
to send him by means of such friars, that day and night they may guard
him as a man in chains, until they present him before the lord of Ostia,
who is the lord, protector and corrector of the whole fraternity. And the
firars are not to say: "This is another Rule," because this is
a remembrance, an admonition, an exhortation and my testament, that I friar
Francis, the tiny one, make for you, my blessed friars, for the sake of
this, that we might observe the Rule, which we have promised the Lord,
in a more catholic way [melius catholice].

And the Minister General and all the other Ministers and custodes are
bound by obedience, not to add to these words nor take away. And they are
to have this writing with them always, next to the Rule. And in all the
chapters that are convened, when they read the Rule, let them read these
words also. And all my friars, clerics and lay, I firmly command by obedience,
that they are not to place glosses upon the Rule, not even by saying in
these words: "Thus they are to be understood." But as the Lord
granted me simply and purely to say and write the Rule and these words,
so you should understand them simply and without gloss and observe them
with holy work until the end. And whosoever will have observed these, may
he be filled in heaven with the blessing of the Most High Father and on
earth with the blessing of His beloved Son with the Most Holy Spirit and
all the powers of Heaven and all the saints. And I friar Francis, your
tiny servant, in as much as I am able, confirm for you, inside and out,
this Most Holy Blessing.

1The Latin here is "ad,"
which has various meanings, the others being "facing"or
"at". Thus the sentance could be read "We adore Thee, Lord
Jesus Christ, [here] and at all Thy churches., which are in the whole world,
and we bless Thee ..." or again, "We adore Thee, Lord Jesus Christ,
and facing all Thy churches, which are in the world, we also bless Thee,
..."; likewise the use of the "and ...and" construction
could render the sentance "We adore Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, both
facing all Thy churches . . . and blessing Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross
Thou has redeemed the world." The first of this other readings, given
in this note, is the traditional translation used among the Friars Minor
even today. The rich meaning of this prayer is thus very fruitful for devotion.

St. Francis' Last Will written for St.
Clare [UltVol]

I, Friar Francis, the tiny one [parvulus], want to follow the life and
poverty of Our Most High Lord Jesus Christ and of His Most Holy Mother
and to persevere in this even to the end; and I beg you, my ladies, and
I give you counsel, that you live in this most holy life and povery
always. And guard yourselves very much, lest by the doctrine or counsel
of anyone you retreat from this in any manner forever.

The Testament of St. Francis made at
Siena [TestSen]

Write this way: I bless all my friars, who are in religion and who will
come even until the end of the age . . .Since on account of my weakness
and the pain of my sickness I cannot manage to speak, in these three words
I am briefly making clear my will to my friars, that is: that, in
remembrance of my blessing and my testament, they love one another, that
they always love and observe our lady, holy poverty, and that they be [existant]
faithful and subject to the prelates and all the clergy of Holy Mother
Church.

On true and perfect joy [VPLaet]

The same friar (brother Leonard) recalled there that one day blessed
Francis, while at St. Mary's [of the Angels], called friar Leo and said:
"Friar Leo, write." Who responded: "Behold I am ready."
"Write—he said—what is perfect joy?" A messanger comes and says
that all the masters of Paris have entered the Order, write, "not
true joy." Likewise that all the prelates beyond the Alps, archbishops
and bishops; likewise that the King of France and the King of England:
write, "not true joy." Likewise, that my friars went among the
infidels and converted them all to the faith; likewise that I have from
God this grace, that I make the sick healthy and work many miracles: I
say to you that in all these things there is not true joy. But what is
true joy? I return from Perugia and in the dead of night I come here and
it is winter time, muddy and what is more, so frigid, that icicles have
congealed at the edge of my tunic and they always pierce my shins, and
blood comes forth from such wounds. And entirely [covered] with mud and
in the cold and ice, I come to the gate, and after I knock for a long
time and call, there comes a friar and he asks: "Who is it? I respond:
"Friar Francis." And he says: "Go away; it is not a decent
hour for going about; you will not enter." And again he would respond
to my insistance: "Go away; you are a simpleton and an idiot; you
do not measure up to us; we are so many and such men, that we are not in
need of you!" And I stand again at the gate and I say: "For the
love of God take me in this night." And he would respond: "I
will not! Go away to the place of Crosiers and ask there." I say
to you that if I will have had patience and will not have been moved, that
in this is true joy and true virtue and soundness of soul.

Translated from the latin text keyed in by Fr. Pierbattista
Pizzaballa, OFM